Do you remember singing this song as a child? I do and I loved singing this song. It always made me feel so special. I would sing it in the car, riding my bike, I would sing it everywhere. No matter where I was, if I started singing this song my friends would join in.

How about you? Did it make you feel special? Did it make you feel like a child of God and so proud to shine?

My question is this, when did we lose this? When did we stop shining? When did we stop singing?

Lets go back to that childlike love, that childlike enthusiasm, that childlike joy. Sit and remember that Child. Let go of what the world has told you or showed you. Let go of what you think of yourself (if its not loving). Let go of all the lies you have told yourself. Let go of the fear and lets shine!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”​– Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

One day, a friend called me on the phone. He was going through a difficult time and wondering if and when things would ever turn around and improve. I knew he was in a lot of pain; I didn’t know then that he was considering suicide.

“If you could give a person only one thing to help them,” he said, “what would it be?”I thought carefully about his question; then I replied, “It’s not one thing. It’s two: gratitude and letting go.” Gratitude for everything, not just the things we consider good or a blessing. And letting go of everything we can’t change.

A few years have passed since that day my friend called me on the phone. His life has turned around. His financial problems have sorted themselves out. His career has shifted. The two very large problems he was facing at that time have both sorted themselves out. The actual process of facing and working through these problems became an important part of redirecting the course of his life.

Someone once asked the artist Georgia O’Keeffe why her paintings magnified the size of small objects—like the petals on a flower—making them appear larger than life, and reduced the size of large objects—like mountains—making them smaller than life.

“Everyone sees the big things,” she said. “But these smaller things are so beautiful and people might not notice them if I didn’t emphasize them.”

That’s the way it is with gratitude and letting go. It’s easy to see the problems in our lives. They’re like mountains. But sometimes we overlook the smaller things; we don’t notice how truly beautiful they are.Identify problems. Feel feelings.

But if you’re going to make anything bigger than life, let it be the power and simplicity of these two tools: gratitude and letting go.

God, teach me to use gratitude and letting go to reduce the size of my problems.

We have an exciting new year ahead of us. I love to look at the new year as a clean slate. The beginning.

Our slate is filling up and we have many adventurous pilgrimages planned. I will actually be travelling for two months straight, I have back to back pilgrimages ahead of me. This is both exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. In between the April Camino Pilgrimage and the June Medjugorje pilgrimage, my son Cale and I will be walking the complete Camino de Santiago. St Jean to Finisterre(890kms). I will be starting a personal blog. So stay tuned!

Our First pilgrimage for 2018 is exciting because I have planned this with my parents in mind. They have been wanting to join me and walk the Camino. They both are worried about their age and health. My dad is ready to go, he walks every day, he is in good health and he loves an adventure. My mother on the other hand, is doing this for her husband. Yet, once she said "Yes", now she too is feeling the call and the pull to walk the Camino. I have added a few extras on this pilgrimage that I usually don't include in the price. I have included van support and luggage transfer. Even though they are transferring their luggage, they have both committed to packing light just like they were carrying their pack. My Mom thinks I should of named it, The Silver Edition Camino! If you are interested in joining this motley crew, email me or give me a call! The dates are April 29-May 9.

My parents have started their training and I am helping them along the way. This is how the Lord opened my eyes to the idea of Camino Coaching. I receive so many questions about the Camino, planning, how to and so on and I thought what better way to help people walk the Camino. I have even met people at REI to help them shop. If you want to walk the Camino but don't know where to start, let me help you out! Camino Coaching, walk it alone or with a group, its your Camino, its your way! If you sign up and join me in a group, all the benefits of Camino Coaching are included.

Along with the Silver Edition Camino, we have many others planned. One of my favorites is the Enchanting Camino Frances. We will be doing this one, September 4 - 22, 2018. I love this one because it is half of the Camino and you get to experience so much of the true Camino. Anyone can walk 4-5 days, but when you walk for 13 days you enter into another place. With this pilgrimage, you walk days before you reach the Iron Cross, you walk the climb up to O'Cebreiro and so many other feats. This route will bring you beauty and wonder. You will experience the mental (meseta) and spiritual (galicia) side of the Camino. This pilgrimage is filling up fast, great weather and great time to walk. If you are interested please email me or give me a call.

We are still in the planning for our Portuguese Camino, dates and information will be coming soon.

Enough about all the Camino talk, lets jump over to Medjugorje. I have two pilgrimages planned for this year. Join me, lets walk where heaven touches earth and truly feel the presence of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother!

37th Anniversary Pilgrimage: June 23-July 3, 2018Celebrate the 37th anniversary of Our Lady in Medjugorje. Be present for the anniversary message and for Mirjana’s apparition at the Blue Cross on July 2, 2018.Quiet Fall Retreat Pilgrimage: Nov 6 – 10, 2018Join us for this quiet time in the village. Perfect time for reflection and quiet time with Our Lady and her Son Jesus!

Please don't hesitate to call, email or text me if you want more information:Cell Phone: 706-835-7994prayerfulpath@gmail.com

As I sat in prayer this morning, I was drawn to Martin Luther King, Jr. I know Monday is the Holiday of Martin Luther King, Jr. so I was praying for inspiration from him. My morning mantra was love, kindness and peace. All that Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied.

​Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~ MLK JR

I just love how Our Lord works! As I started writing and researching, I came across a blog post by Dr. Wayne Dyer. It said everything perfectly. So here I give you, Dr. Wayne Dyer:

A Simple Experiment, by: Dr. Wayne Dyer​​There is no greater power in heaven or on earth than pure, unconditional love. The nature of the God force, the unseen intelligence in all things, which causes the material world and is the center of both the spiritual and physical plane, is best described as pure, unconditional love. This God force is the oversoul to which we are always connected because we are localized extensions of that force.

I suggest you embark on an experiment in which you practice only unconditional love for several days. Vow to yourself that you will only allow unconditional loving thoughts to emanate from your consciousness. Make an intense proclamation to live unconditional love. During this time, refuse to have judgmental or critical thoughts. In your quiet time, think only peace and love. In all of your relationships, think and act in only loving ways. Extend loving thoughts and energy wherever and whenever you encounter anyone or anything. Become unconditional love for this period of time.

By pouring love into your immediate environment and practicing gentleness in all of your thoughts, words, and actions, your immediate circle of friends will begin responding in a whole new way. This act becomes expansive very quickly and you can radiate this love to your whole community. You become detached and loving toward all. You are not loving the hostile acts of others, but you are loving the spirit that is blocked in those who are harmful and unloving. When you can live this way and reject all thoughts and actions that are not of an unconditionally loving nature, you will experience the essence of your spirit and discover how to overcome limitations in your life.​What can you expect as you practice a few days of being total unconditional love? If all of your meditations are devoted to love, and if you pour love into every single situation and every single person you meet, and beyond that to everyone on the planet and to the infinity of the universe, you will feel yourself becoming a different person. You will sleep more soundly. You will feel at peace virtually all of the time. Your relationships will be more deeply spiritual. You will begin recognizing the “coincidences” of your life with greater regularity. Your thought forms of unconditional love will begin to produce what you desire without your even being aware of how it is happening. Your dreams will be more intense, and the vision of your purpose will become clearerSource: ​https://www.drwaynedyer.com/blog/a-simple-experiment/